NC Members: Emissions questions

[redsubdivisions]

Okay, so in a year (or sooner if something pops up), I will be leaving Florida. I really don't want to have to sell my turbo E30. It is obviously far from stock (3 inch pipe and a muffler all the way back) and this would be the first time I would need to do an emissions test (Florida never required any of it). I am reading up on the state website that pre-OBD2 cars are exempt from this. Is this true? And if so, does the car still need a visual inspection? Anyone who has personally dealt with this, please chime in.

[matthugie]

You still need a visual inspeciton and pass things like lights, horn, and wipers. If you have a cat then you'll be fine anywhere, if not, you'll need to find a place that doesn't see as well.

I found places when I had my S52 car with no cat to get around it, but it's a bit of a pain.

[redsubdivisions]

You still need a visual inspeciton and pass things like lights, horn, and wipers. If you have a cat then you'll be fine anywhere, if not, you'll need to find a place that doesn't see as well.

I found places when I had my S52 car with no cat to get around it, but it's a bit of a pain.

Do they make you pop the hood? If so, I don't think it is going to go over so well when they see a Holset in the engine bay. lol

[N2MYE30]

My swapped coupe had the hood open and a under carriage looked at. All passed but then again mine was completely legal. No emission tested.

[matthugie]

If your car starts, stops, and the basic safety equipment is present and works (i.e. lights, wipers, horn), and it has what looks like a cat on it you'll pass.

They don't use a sniffer, don't care what motor is in it, don't care if you're boosted, or anything else really. It's billed as a "safety only" inspection and that's pretty much all they're looking for. Heck, the last time my car went through it had no interior to speak of, roll bar, race seats, harnesses, and no trace of the factory restraint systems and they didn't care. The only issue you will have with any standard inspection place is if you don't have a cat. If you don't you'll need to ask some people in your area (privately) what places may be more lenient.

[redsubdivisions]

If your car starts, stops, and the basic safety equipment is present and works (i.e. lights, wipers, horn), and it has what looks like a cat on it you'll pass.

They don't use a sniffer, don't care what motor is in it, don't care if you're boosted, or anything else really. It's billed as a "safety only" inspection and that's pretty much all they're looking for. Heck, the last time my car went through it had no interior to speak of, roll bar, race seats, harnesses, and no trace of the factory restraint systems and they didn't care. The only issue you will have with any standard inspection place is if you don't have a cat. If you don't you'll need to ask some people in your area (privately) what places may be more lenient.

This is definitely good to hear. So basically all I would need is a cat (or at least it looks like one) welded in place and then I would be good to go...? If so, I could get that done before I make the leap up there.